Carriage-spring



(No Model.)

0. M. BROWN CARRIAGE SPRING.

No. 368,203. Patented May 17, 1887.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN M. BROWN, OF NEWPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CARRIAGE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,203, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed February 5, 1883. Serial No. 84. 15. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN M. BROWN, of Newport, in the county'of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, durable, convenient, and efficient arcrossrods arranged upon the same horizontal plane and connected with short auxiliary springs or drop links, or both, which constructions each are found to be objectionable on account of the unequal weight brought to bear upon the rear portion or rear half of side springs as usually constructed, being of the same dimensions as the forward half, or each end portion from the center being substantially the same as to elasticity and adapted to yield equally if the load be placed centrally; but, as it is desirable in one-seated pleasurecarriages and double-seated vehicles to provide easy access for the occupants, it becomes necessary to arrange the seat or seats some distance back of the vertical plane of the longitudinal center of such side springs, thereby bringing greater weight and strain to bear upon the rear portion than upon the forward half of the same when in use. I provide for this unequal weight and strain by construct ing the side springs with sectional leaves, none of which extend the entire length of the spring, the lower leaf extending from the end of the spring inwardly or toward the center about two-thirds the distance, more or less, as may be desired, and the lower leaf of the opposite end extending in the same manner and about the same distance, or as maybe desired, and of a different thickness or weight of steel, so as to render one half or one end portion from the center to the end of the spring of greater elasticity than the other half; or the second leaves may be of unequal thickness or weight, as they do not extend each way from the center of the spring toward the end in a continuous piece, but are formed in separate pieces and extend from a point near the ends of the bottom leaves toward the center of the spring a little farther than such lower ones, if desired, or may end at the same point, the upper leaf alone extending equally each side of the center or toward each end of the spring from the center and connected with or secured to the leaves beneath at a point near their inward ends by a forked clip, as shown, or in any other suitable manner desired.

Now, in order to employ a curved side spring and permit the carriage-body to be mounted or seated thereon in a relative low position to the runninggear, I form the upper leaf or surface of the spring at its central portion straight about one-third the distance or extreme length of the spring, by which construction I am enabled to dispense with the usual spring-block or shoe-piece fitted upon the curved central portion of the spring, and upon which the carriage-body is mounted and secured when curved side springs of the usualconstruction are employed.

It will be seen and understood that with the side springs constructed according to my in vention, with their central portions straight upon their upper surface, the straight sill or bottom of the carriage-body may be mounted or seated directly upon such horizontal straight portion of the springs, and secured thereto in any suitable manner, or by means of the vertical bolts extending upward from the top portion of the forked clips, and provided with a screw thread and corresponding nuts, as shown and hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claim.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a carriage gearing having side springs attaclud and constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of one of the details of construction, consisting of the double-seated chair, drawn to an enlarged scale.

A represents the hind axle and its bed-piece, and B representsihe forward rocker, near the ends of which,and upon the top thereof, are permanently secured the forward ends of the side bars, 0 O, by means of the double-seated chairs D D, which are provided with upwardly-pro jecting ears,betwccn which the ends of the said side bars are closely fitted, thus forming seats for the same. The bottoms of the said chairs are similarly provided with projections arranged at right angles to the former, and which extend downward each side of or at the front and rear faces of the said rocker and near each end thereof and in close contact therewith, as shown. These double-seated chairs D are provided with suitable bolt-holes extending vertically through the same just outside of the said downward projections, and within said holes are fitted the prongs of the clasp E, which are extended upward through the same and through corresponding holes formed through the said sidebars, 0, near each end thereof, and at opposite sides of the said rocker and through a plate, F, provided with corresponding holes and placed upon the end portions of the said side bars,O, and are held thereon by screw-threaded nuts, which bear upon the said plate F,.and thereby bind all of the said parts together in a very firm and secure manner. The rear ends of the said side barsfO, being secured to and upon the top of the hind-axle bed-piece A by means of the double-seated chairs D and clasps E, with screw-threaded ends and corresponding nuts precisely in the same manner as described above, itwill not be necessary to repeat the said construction in detail. taching and securing the ends of the said side bars with the front rocker and rear axle and its bed-piece renders the construction so strong and durable that the usual center reach or perch may be dispensed with, if desired, thus reducing the cost and also permitting the carriage-body' to be hung very much lower, which is a desirable object in. a certain class of carriages.

In order to support the cross rods H H in proper position, I form a short extension upon the inward ends of the said double- 3 seated chairs D and provide therein a horizongear, as shown.

tal lateral opening or eye, J, into and through which the end portions of the said cross-rods H are fitted, and provided with screw-threaded ends and corresponding nuts, as shown,at the rear end of the said spring and runninggear .in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward cross-rod, H, at the opposite end portion of the gearing being supported at its ends by passing through holes formed in the lower ends of the droplinks I, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the eyes J of the double-seated chairs D,attached to the forward end portion of the said Thus it will be seen that the said cross-rods H H are not arranged upon the same horizontal plane, which construction enables me to dispense with one set of links 7 by forming the rear ends of the side springs,

K,with a scroll, L, being turned upward and 'formed withau eye which fits upon a portion of the cross rods H near their supported ends. The forward ends of the said side springs, K, are curved upward but a trifle and formed with an eye which fits upon the forwardcrossrod,H, which rod being suspended at itsends by the drop-links I, anyelongations of the said stead of a curve, as heretofore now in, general use.

It will be seen that this method of atconstructing such springs with any numberv of leaves, and that the short middle or under leaves may be formed of thicker steel at one curved side springs, K, are provided for by the adaptation of the said pivoted drop-links I to reeede or swing forward, thus securing an easy motion to the side springs when sustaining a-heavy or light'load. These curved side springs,K, I form in a novel and peculiar manner by constructing the lower leaves to extend from the eye endtoward the center of tends on the desired curve at each end inward] y or toward the center of the spring to a point near the termination of the under leaves, where it is secured with the former ones by a forked clip, M, or in any other suit able manner, and with its center portion, between the said clips M orother fastening,

straight, or formed on a horizontal plane inemployed and It will be understood that I contemplate end (designed for the rear) than employed in the other or forward end, or the rear end portion of such side springs ma'y have provided an additional leaf or number of leaves, as may be desired, to produce a side spring the end portions of which differ as to their elasticity. By this construction of side springs the end portions of the springs which yield may be made comparatively short, and. consequentlylight and of less cost than heretofore, where all the leaves are continued throughout the central portion of the spring. The central portion ofthese side springs being formed'straight between said clips Mor other fastenings,they are adapted to be secured direct to the straight surface of the under side of the sill ofa carriage-body by a bolt extend ing upward from the top portion of the said forked clips M and provided with a screwthread and nut to attach such springs and body together in a permanent manner, requiring no shoe piece or sp'ringblock, as here tofore employed upon side springs having upward 'curved central portions.

Having thus .described my invention, what I claim is- 1 The cross-rods H H, arranged in different horizontal planes, having thedrop-links I,and provided with springs having straight central portions and unequal curved end portions, construeted as shown and described.

CALVIN M. BROWN. Witnesses:

Amos 0. CHASE, DANIEL J. BAKIE.

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